Pollard and Badree star as West Indies sweep Zimbabwe

A bludgeoning innings from Kieron Pollard and career-best figures from Samuel Badree spearheaded the West Indies’ 41-run win over Zimbabwe in the second and final Twenty20 international on Sunday.

Responding to the hosts’ total of 158-7, the visitors were restricted to 117-6, with only Hamilton Masakadza offering any sort of resistance with an unbeaten 53 off 51 deliveries.

However, the damage was already done, with Badree dismissing the top three in the Zimbabwe order to finish with 3-17.

With their second consecutive comprehensive win — after Saturday’s eight-wicket triumph — the world champions took the series 2-0 following a 3-0 whitewash of Zimbabwe in the one-day matches in Grenada. Both sides now turn their attention to the Test matches, the first of two beginning next Tuesday in Barbados.

Pollard crashed three sixes and three fours in an unbeaten 46 off just 24 deliveries to lift the West Indies to a competitive total, dominating a 56-run fifth-wicket partnership with Darren Sammy, the captain contributing 19.

All the Zimbabwe bowlers had shown discipline in limiting the home team’s early progress. Tendai Chatara accounted for Johnson Charles, who lost his middle stump in missing an ugly swipe

The spinners then came to the fore, with leggie Natsai Mushangwe removing Dwayne Bravo and man of the series Simmons, who perished for 41.

Experienced off-spinner Prosper Utseya disposed of Christopher Barnwell, the all-rounder attempting one cut shot too many to be bowled for just 7. It was the former captain’s only wicket, but his four-over spell, which cost 22 runs, was the most economical.